Channel the Greatest Generation to Grit Through the Pandemic

Before D-Day and the Pacific island hopping campaign, the Greatest Generation learned the hard way how to get through the toughest of times. Many who served in World War II, as well as those who waited on the home front, had already survived the Great Depression, a time of massive unemployment and food insecurity beginning in 1929 and lasting right up to the start of the war.

Essential Food Shortages

Before the current pandemic even started to really hit the US, stores saw their entire stock of toilet paper get wiped out. Now, we’re seeing shortages of food essentials like flour, milk, bread and eggs.

This wouldn’t have been unfamiliar to the WW2 generation. They lived through the Depression, when many food items were simply too expensive to buy frequently. And then the War brought food rationing to help keep the troops well fed.

They learned how to cook with smart swaps, like using applesauce for eggs or oil. We can use some of these recipes today!

What they couldn’t buy, they often learned to grow themselves! Almost every family had a victory garden in their yard, on their patio or as part of a larger community garden. You can still see victory gardens in Boston.

You can use these tips from the Greatest Generation to handle food shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic: